An amputee still recovering from the trauma of losing most of his left leg endured an agonising six-hour ordeal after the ambulance in which he was being transferred was pulled over by police for not having an MoT.

Dave Chalcroft, was “over the moon” at the prospect of being moved to a hospital nearer to his family in Pyle, Bridgend, after he was forced to have his leg amputated below the knee after developing a diabetic ulcer while working on the Isle of Wight.

But the “routine” two-and-a-half hour transfer from Southampton General Hospital, where he underwent the operation, to Bridgend’s Princess of Wales Hospital compounded his trauma, after he was left without pain relief for hours when traffic police discovered the vehicle wasn’t registered as roadworthy.

The situation worsened when the South Central Ambulance Service dispatched a replacement ambulance from 150 miles away in KENT to where the patient was suffering in Swindon.

“I still can’t believe it really happened,” said 53-year-old self-employed tarmacer, who is still recovering in hospital following the October 1 incident.

“I’m a 6ft 4in monster, I always have been, but this has shaken even me.

“I cut my foot while I was working but when I went in to hospital they said it was a diabetic ulcer.

“They didn’t have specialists on the Isle of Wight so I was transferred to Southampton, and in days it went from me needing two toes amputated, to just below the ankle, and then four inches above the ankle.

“When I came out of the operation, it had been amputated to four inches below the knee.

“It was all very traumatic, even for a tough bloke like me, and it was difficult for my wife and daughters travelling back and forth from Bridgend to visit me.

Due to Mr Chalcroft’s condition, and the fact that neither ambulance worker was trained to administer morphine or any other pain relief, the ambulance was then escorted to the nearest hospital in Swindon - despite this contravening the law further.

“We then had to wait for an ambulance to come from Kent to Swindon, which was another two-and-a-half hours away.

“In the six or so hours it took to get me from Southampton to Bridgend I had no food and only a very small amount of medication after I’d been suffering for a while in Swindon. I spent my time strapped to an ambulance bed that is not built for a man of my size to lay on for that length of time.”

Dave Chalcroft arrived at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend six and a half hours after leaving Southampton

Mr Chalcroft has criticised the South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) following his ordeal, claiming he was not offered any apology or explanation until they were contacted by WalesOnline.

He believes the trauma and lack of care has also had a detrimental effect on his recovery.

He added: “I felt sorry for the two girls transporting me, they just did not know what to do when we got pulled over. I’m sure there is nothing in their training to cover what to do when the NHS breaks the law.

“I just want people to know about what is a massive failure of our NHS. What an absolute embarrassment.

“And if that ambulance wasn’t MoT’d, it makes you question how many more are in that state.”

A spokesman for SCAS said they were unaware of the alleged incident, but have since launched an investigation.

He said: “A private provider working on behalf of South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) did convey a gentleman from Southampton General Hospital to the Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend.

"SCAS is extremely concerned to hear of the difficulties endured and would have encouraged the patient or his family to have contacted our Patient Experience Team at their earliest convenience with any concerns about his transport. We would encourage them to still do so now.

“Before today SCAS had not been notified by the private provider of any problems with the vehicle or any disruption to the journey.

“The Trust is now conducting a thorough investigation as a matter of urgency and will be liaising with the patient and his family directly to inform them fully of the outcomes.”